JO090 

P5IZ 


No  73. 

THE  JOYFUL  TIDINGS. 


BY  REV.  S.  BQYKIN. 


Peace,  Peace  to  him  that  is  afar  off.— Isaiah  57  :  19. 


I. 

For  seven  long  years  had  the  States  of  North  America,  amid 
suffering  and  sorrow  and  defeat  and  death,  waged  a  desperate  war 
against  England.  Hoping  almost  against  Hope,  and  struggling  ap- 
parently against  Fate  itself,  the  colonies  had  continued  the  conflict 
until  their  treasury  was  bankrupt,  until  almost  every  resource  was 
exhausted,  and  until  distress  and  want  stalked  boldly  through  the 
land. 

At  length  peace  came  ! 

Up  flew  every  cap  into  the  air.  Loud  were  the  huzzas  that  re- 
sounded throughout  the  land.  The  bells  rung,  the  cannons  roared, 
bonfires  and  illuminations  testified  to  the  universal  joy,  congratula- 
tions flowed  forth  on  every  side,  men  grasped  each  others'  hands 
in  mukial  delight,  and  in  their  eyes  glistened  the  tear  of  joy.  Old 
men  and  young  men,  soldiers  and  civilians,  matrons  and  maidens,  all 
exhibited  the  wildest  manifestations  of  satisfaction.  You  would 
have  thought  thatsueh  a  people  never  would  have  been  again  guilty 
of  the  enormity  of  war.  And  yet,  hardly  was  a  generation*  laid  in 
their  graves,  before  a  second  war  began  between  the  same  powers, 
and  for  two  years  carried  ruin  and  dismay  into  every  household  in 
the  United  States. 

But  at  length  peace  came  again. 

Hear  the  account  of  the  reception  of  the  news  in  New  York  city. 

It  was  late  in  the  evening  of  February  15th,  1815.  In  the  oflice 
of  the  old  Gazette,  in  Hanover  Square,  near  the  corner  of  Pearl 
street,  thuee  men  were  seated.  At;  the  office  was  about  being  closed, 
a  pilot  rushed  in,  and  stood  for  a  moment  so  entirely  exhausted, 
as  to  beunable  to  speak. 

"K&e  has  great  news,"  says  Mr.  Lang,  the  Editor.  Presently,  the 
Pilot,  gasping  for  breath,  whispered  intelligibly, 

"Peace!  Peace!" 

The  three  gentlemen  now  lost  their  breath  as  fast  as  the  Pilot  gain- 
ed his.     Directly,  the  Pildt  was  able  to  say, 

"A  English  ship  ofwart.sbeloic,  icith  the  news  of  a  treaty  of 
peace." 


0  '    Exclamations  of  rapturous  delight  burst  forth  from  all,  as   they 
rushed  into  Hanover  Square,  crying, 

"Peace.,  Peace,  PEACE !" 

Up  flew  the  windows  on  all  sides,  and  no  sooner  were  the  inmates 

sure  of  the  sweet  sound  of  peace  than  the    windows  began  to  glow 

with  brilliant  illuminations.     Through  the    city   and  at   the  top  or* 

every  voice  spread  the  cry,  "''v^^S 

.      "Peace,  Peace,  PEACE  !" 

No  one  stopped  to  inquire  about  "free  trade  and  sailor's  rights." 
No  one  even  inquired  whether  the  national  honor  had  been  preserv- 
ed. Enough  it  was  that  the  ruinous  war  was  over — this  was  the 
great  joy  that  stirred  every  breast  and  spread  from  bosom  to  bo- 
som, from  house  to  house,  from  street  to  street,  until  the  entire  city 
was  in  a  blaze  of  delight,  and  reverberated  again  and  again  with  the 
glad  shout, 
^"Pectoe,  Peace,  PEACE!" 

H. 

Nearly  fifty  years  have  rolled  around,  and  we  of  the  South  have 
taken  up  arms  to  resist  just  such  tyranny  as  our  forefathers  resisted 
— an  unjust  government.  Our  opponents  are  the  same  people  who, 
in  conjunction  with  us>  successfully  repelled  the  efforts  ofEngland 
to  subjugate  them.  Both  by  sea  and  by  land  they  are  pressing  upon 
us  with  a  power  that  would  appal  any  but  those  determined  to  be 
free.  Eight  hundred  thousand  warriors,  armed  as  warriors  never 
were  before,  are  bearing  down  upon  us  in  legions  apparently  invin- 
cible. Iron- clad  boats,  armed  with  the  most  formidable  implements 
of  destruction,  threaten  speedy  demolition  to  all  opposition. 

Upon-  our  coasts  hover  numberless  ships  freighted  with  those  who 
are  raging  for  blood.  Three  millions  of  men  are  waiting  to  be  called 
into  the  field,  that  they  may  move  upon  us  in  phalanxes  sufficient 
by  their  very  weight  to  crush  us  to  the  earth.  Already  five  hundred 
thousand  human  beings  have  been  immolated  upon  the  altar  of  war. 
Two  hundred  thousand  hearts  that  once  beat  high  with  hope  and 
joy  and  love,  are  now  hushed  in  the  grave  ;  two  hundred  thousand 
as  noble  men  as  ever  walked  the  earth,  now  slumber  in  death — a 
holocaust  to  liberty  ;  while  from  a  million  of  households  constantly 
ascends  the  wail  of  anguish.  The  mourning  cry  of  the  widow  and 
orphan  may  be  heard  all  over  our  land.  Every  breeze  is  burdened 
with  the  meek  murmur  of  want,  with  the  sad  sigh  of  suspense, 'and 
With  the  low  moan  of  suffering.  From  every  quarter  come  up  tales 
of  hojrror  and  demoniac  rage  ;  fire,  pillage  and  Outrage  blacken  the 
annals  of  the  day;  while  continued  threatening  and  slaughter,  axe 
breathed  out  by  our  infuriated  foes.  War  is,  indeed,  a  horrible 
thing! 

How  welcome  will  be  peace  !     Peace  that  will  bring  an  end  to  all 
these  horrors ;  peace  that  will  lift  from  our  land  the  cloud  of  anguish 


and  suspense ;  peace  that  will  sheathe  the  sword  and  silence  the 
cannon  and  quiet  all  fear  and  banish  all  dread;  peace,  that  will  bring 
bright  prosperity  with  all  its  glorious  train,  and  cause  our  land  to 
smile  with  gladness ;  peace,  that  will  light  up  the  sky  with  the 
roseate  beams  of  hope,  and  fill  the  land  with  joy  and  happiness  ; 
peace  that  will  insure  our  liberty  and  safety,  and  give  us  an  honor- 
Die  place  among  the  nations  of  the  earth  ! 

O  peace  is  a  glorious  thing  ! 

When  it  comes,  ah,  how, we  will  appreciate  it!  How  rapturously 
will  we  sing  in  its  honor  !  And  how  loth  will  we  be  ever  again  to 
disturb  its  quietude  and  its  joy  ! 

The  sweetest  word  in  all  our  language  will  then  be,  peace.  No 
effort  will  be  spared  in  order  to  secure  it ;  no  sacrifice  will  appear 
too  great  in  order  to  retain  it  forever.  God  grant  that  soon  all  hearts 
may  be  gladdened  by  the  joyful  sound,  Peace  .' — that  every  lip  may 
sound  it  forth  in  rapture,  and  every  mountain  and  vale  resound 
with  the  echo,  Peace,  PEACPj  ! — that  from  every  valley  and  plain 
and  hill-top  and  mountain  peak,  amid  universal  rejoicings,  may  as- 
cend the  loud  chorus,       ' 

peace: peace:  peace! 

III. 

Earthly  peace  is  indeed  a  boon  of  inestimable  value;  but  there  is 
a  peace  far  transcending  it  in  importance  and  estimation,  and  one  in 
which  every  man,  woman  and  child  should  be  inconceivably  more 
interested  than  in  a  peace  with  earthly  enemies,  and  that  is — peace 
with  God. 

To  thie  unconverted  there  is  a  necessity  fur  this  peace.; "for  they 
are  naturally  in  a  state  of  enmity  against  God.  They  were  brought 
into  that  state  by  the  sin  of  Adam,  but,  alas,  by  their  own. sinful 
acts,  they  have  widened  the  breach  to  a  fearful  extent.  "The  carnal 
mind  is  enmity  against  God  ;  for  it  is  not  subject  to  the  law  of  God, 
neither  indeed  can  be."  (Rom.  8  :  7.)  And,  by  "wicked  works," 
sinners  not  only  continue  to  maintain  their  attitude  of  "alienated  and 
enemies  in  mind,"  (Col.  1:  21)  but  daily  they  grow  worse  and 
worse  in  their  feelings,  and  by  their  sinful  actions  they  exasperate 
him  more  and  more  each  hour. 

Sinner,  beware.  "God  jud<jeth  the  righteous,  and  God  is  angry 
with  the  wicked  every  day.  If  the  wicked  turn,  not,  God  will  whet 
his  sword.  He  hath  bent  his  bow  and  made  it  ready.  Hi  hath  also 
prepared  for  hied  the  instruments  of  death.  He  ordaineth  Jus  ar- 
rows against  the  persecutor.-."  ( 'Psalms  15  :  11 — 15.)  As  Judge 
of  the  world — as  Governor  of  the  world,  God — the  sin-hating  God — 
is  your  enemy.     He  must  wage  war  with  you. 

And,  with  God  for  your  enemy,  what,  ()  sinner,  what  can  you  do  ?. 
In  matching  your  strength  with  an  angry  God,  can  you,  dare  you 
hope  for  victory  ?     "Do  you  provoke  the   Lord  to  "jealousy?     Are 


yon  stronger  than  he  ?"  (1  Cor.  10  :  22.)  "He  is  wise  in  heart 
and  mighty  in  strength,  who  hath  hardened  himself  against  him  and 
hath  prospered  ?"     (Job  9  :  4.) 

In  a  struggle  with  one  who  is  infinite  in  wisdom  and  in  power? 
what  chance  is  there  for  you  to  gain  the  victory  ? 

Omnipotent,  can  he  not  crush  you  T 

Having  power  over  all  agencies,  can  he  not  overcome  you  ? 

When  God  is  your  enemy,  sickness,  the  bullet,  the  sword,  the 
beasts  of  the  field — everything  is  your  enemy.  (Hosea  2  :  18.  Job 
5  :  22,  23.)  Not  in  all  creation  have  you  one  efiicient  friend;  how, 
then,  can  you  be  safe  ? 

Unreconciled  to  God,  there  is  for  you  but  one  end  to  this  contest, 
and  that  is  certain  defeat — everlasting  misery,  woe  and  despair. — 
And  at  any  time,  God  may  say,  "Cut  him  down,  why  cumbereth  he 
the  ground  V  (Luke  13  :  17.)  Ah,  sinner,  all  this  binds  you  up 
to  the  necessity  of  making  your  peace  with  God.  Let  me,  then,  in 
all  friendliness,  ask  you  if  it  is  not  wise  t^  make  peace  with  the  Al- 
mighty ?  In  a  contest  with  an  adversary  so  powerful,  is  it  not 
wise  to  count  the  cost  of  a  continued  struggle? 

Let  us  see  what  risks  you  run  in  continuing  your  warfare  with 
Jehovah  : 

1.  You  run  the  risk  of  God's  withering,  blasting  ourse,  which  will 
turn  all  your  joy  into  sorrow,  and  all  your  enjoyments  into  the  black- 
ness of  despair.  "The  curse  of  the  Lord  is  in  the  house  of  the  wicked." 
(Prov.  3  :  33.)  "Cursed  shall  be  thy  basket  and  thy  store — cursed 
shall  be  the  fruit  of  thy  body,  and  the  fruit  of  thy  land,  the  increase 
of  thy  kin  e  and  the  flocks  of  thy  sheep. '  Gursed  shalt  thou  be  when 
thou  comest  in,  and  cursed  shalt  thou  be  when  thou  goest  out.  The 
Lord  shall  send  upon  thee  cursing,  vexation  and  rebuke  in  all  that 
thou  settest  thine  hand  unto  for  to  do,  until  thou  be  destroyed,  and 
until  thou  perish  quickly — because  of  the  wickedness  of  thy  doings 
whereby  thou  hast  forsaken  me."    (Deut.  28  :  17---20.) 

2.  You  will  put  a  blockade  upon  all  the  mercies  of  God.  For  you, 
while  an  avowed  and  determined  enemy  to  God,  there  can  be  no 
grace,  no  pardon,  no  peace  of  mind.  From  you  can  ascend  to  heav- 
en, so  as  to  be  heafd,  no  supplication,  no  sigh  for  relief.  Within 
your  breast  a  gnawing  conscience  will  rage  furiously,  and  to  you  rest 
will  be  an  utter  stranger.  "There  is  no  peace  to  the  wicked,  saith 
my  God/'    (Isa.  57:  21.) 

3.  Your  soul  will  be  lost — forever  lost.  And  if  such  be  the  case, 
of  what  avail  will  be  all  the  pleasures  and  acquirements  of  earth? 
"For  what  is  a  man  profited,  if  he  gain  the  whole  world  and  lose  his 
own  soul  ?"  (Matt.  16  :  26.)  "For  what  is  a  man  advantaged,  if 
he  gain  the  whole  world  and  lose  himself,  or  be  cast  away  ?  (Luke 
9:,  25.) 


Tkur   unconverted  reader,  the  war  you  'are  carrying  on   against 
Jehovah  wTl  resuk  in  irremediable,  hopeless,  endless  defeat.  Forever 
and  ever — jven  while  God  is  God — will  he  continue  to  punish  those 
who,  on  earth,  warred  against  him  and  were   defeated.     They  not 
simply  rejected  his  offers  of  mercy,  but  they  spat  upon  those  oilers ; 
they  not  simply  spurned  the  gift  of  a  mediator,  but  they  trod  under 
foot  the  son  of  God  j  they  not  only  counted  the  blood  of  the  covenant 
an  unholy  thing,  but  they  did  despit?  unto  the  Spirit  of  grace.  With 
eternal  vengeance  will  God  continue  to  torment  them.  "For  if  we  sin 
wilfully,  after  that  we  have  received  a  'knowledge  of  the  truth,  there 
rcmaineth  no  more  sacrifice  for  sin,  but  a  certain  fearful  looking  for 
of  punishment  and  fiery  indignation,  which  shall  devour  the  adversa- 
ries/' He  that  despised  Moses'  law,  died  without  mercy  under  tw£> 
or  three  witnesses',  of  how  much   sorer  punishment,   suppose    ye, 
shall  he  be  thought  worthy,  who  hath    trodden  under  foot  the  Son 
of  God,  and  hath  counted  the  blood  of  the  covenant,  wherewith    he 
was  sanctified,  an  unholy  thing,    and   hath   done    despite   unto   th^e 
Spirit  of  Grace.     For  we  know  him  that  hath  said,  "Vengeance  is 
mine,  I  will  repay,  saith  the  Lord."  (Hebrew  10:  26-29.)     "The 
Lord  shall  be  revealed   from   heaven  with  his   mighty    angels,   in 
flaming  fire,  taking  vengeance  on  them  that  know  not  God,  and  that 
obey  not  the  Gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ — who  shall  be  punish- 
ed with  -everlasting  destruction  from  the    presence  of  the  Lord  and 
from  the  glory  of  his   power."     (2nd.  Thess.    1 :  7—9.)     "It  is  a 
fearful  thing  to  fall  into  the  hand  of  the  living  God."     (Heb.  10  : 
31.)     Consider,  0  sinner,  what  thou  art  doing  !     Life  and  death  are 
set  before  thee.     Continue  to  wage  war  with  God,  and  you  are  lost 
forever.     While  he  is  extending  the  arms  of  forgiveness,  make  your 
peace  with  him,  and  all  will  be  well.     He  himself  says  to  the  obsti- 
nate, endangered  sinner,  uLet  him  take  hold  of  my  strength,  that  he 
may  make,   peace  with  me,  and  he  shall  be   at  peace   icith  me."— 
(Isaiah  27  :  5  ) 


I  hear  you  ask,  in  dismay, 
"But  what  is  peace  with  God?" 

Peace  with  God  is  a.  deliverance  from  sin,  on  account  of  which  we  are 
at  enmity  with  God  and  God  with  us.  It  is  sin  that  defiles  our  whole 
nature — our  words,  our  thoughts  and  our  deeds  ;  and  hence,  every 
act  we  perform  is  an  act  of  sin  or  rebe  llion  against  God  and  his 
holy  law.  For  sin  is  a  violation  of  God's  holy  law,  and 
is  proof  of  such  a  rebellious  spirit  as  would  dethrone  the  Al- 
mighty and  reign  supreme  in  his  place,  if  the  power  to  do  so 
were  not  wanting.  Therefore,  "God  is  angry  with  the  wicked  every 
day."  (Psalm  7  :  11,)  and  he  will  surely  overwhelm  them  with 
defeat  and  punishment — "the  adversaries  of  the  Lord  shall  be  bro- 
ken to  pieces — out  of  heaven  shall  he  thunder  upon   them."     (1st 

Sam.  2  :  10.)     "Indignation    and   wrath,  tribulation   and  anguish 


shall  be  upon  every  soul  of  man  that  doeth  evil.".     (Rom.  2  : .9.) 

"The  Lord  is  a  man  of  War/'  (Exodus  15  :  3,)  who  pan  cope 
with  him  ?  He  has  but  to  speak  the  word,  and  thou,  poor  sinner, 
wilt  be  blasted  to  everlasting  destruction.  Thou  mayest  well  trem- 
ble for  thy  safety  whilst  unreconciled  to  God.  Arise  and  make  thy 
'peace  with  him ! 

But  you  inquire  hdw  you  can  make  your  peace  with  God  ! 

Now,  in  order  to  be  at  peace  with  God,  you  must  get  rid  of  sin. — 
Can  you  get  rid  of  sin  in  reality  ?  No,  But  you  can  get  rid  of  the 
guilt  of  sin,  which  amounts  to  the  same  thing,  as  far  as  escape  from 
eternal  punishment  is  concerned. 

You  ask,  How  can  1  get  rid  of  the  guilt  of  sin  ? 

I  answer,  Only  by  being pardoned  by  the  Almighty.  But  will 
die  almighty  pardon  the  sins  of  those  whom  he  declares  he  will  pun- 
ish on  account  of  their  sins,  and  whose  punishment  his  justice  de- 
mands ? 

Yes ;  for  the  sake  of  Jesus,  "who  gave  himself  for  our  sins;  that 
he  might  deliver  us  from  this  present  evil  world. "     (Gal.  i  :  4.) 

"We  are  reconciled  to  God  by  the  death  of  his  Son.'-  (-Romans 
11 :  15.)  "God  hath  reconcile^  us  to  himself  by  Jesus  Christ." — 
(2  Cor.  5  :  18.)  "It  pleased  the  Father  that  in  Christ  should  all 
fullness  dwell,  and,  (having  made  peace  through  the  blood  of  his 
cross,)  by  Him  to  reconcile  all  things  to  himself — you  hath  he  re- 
conciled/' (Col  1 :  19 — 21.)  Christ  bore  the  punishment  of  our  sins, 
and  thus  made  it  possible  for  God  to  become  reconciled  to  us  and 
forgive  our  sins.  "To  the  Lord  our  God  belong  mercies  and  forgive- 
ness, though  we  have  rebelled  against  him."  (Dan.  9  :  9.)  "The 
blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  his  son,  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin."  £1  Jno.  1 : 
7.)     T  see  a  ray  of  hope  animating  your  face,  and  you  ask, 

Did  Christ  really  bear  my  punishment*and  prepare  a  way  for  par-' 
don  and  peace  ?  • 

Yesv,  listen  tome!  "He  was  wounded  for  our  transgressions,  he 
was  bruised  for  our  iniquities :  the  chastisement  of  our  peace  was 
upon  him,  and  by  his  stripes  we  are  healed."  (Isaiah  53  :  5.)  "The 
Son  of  man  came  to  give  his  life,  a  ransom  for  many."  (Mark  10 : 
15.)  "He  gave  himself  for  us,  that  he  might  redeem  us  from  all  in- 
iquity." (Titus  2  :  14.)  "He  was  delivered  for  our  offences,  and 
rose  again  for  our  justification."  (Rom.  4  f  25.)  "-Christ  died  for  us 
according  to  the  Scriptures."  (1  Cor.  15  :  3)  "For  when  we  were 
without  strength,  in  due  time  Christ  died  for  the,  ungodly — God 
commendeth  his  love  toward  us,  in  that  while  were  yet  sinners 
Christ  died  for  us«."     (Rom.  5  :  6 — 8.) 

The  way,  then,  for  reconciliation  with  God,  is  open  through 
Christ's  atonement.  By  that  atonement  the  kw  and  justice  are  sat- 
isfied, and  all  obstructions  to  peace  and  friendship  toward  sinners, 
on  the  part  of  God,  are  removed.  He  may  mercifully  forgive  them 
and  receive  them  into  his  favor,  upon  their  believing  his  word,  re- 
ceiving this  atonement  or  reconciliation,  and  relying  upon  it  alone, 


as  a  sufficient  satisfaction  for  their  sins.  "He  that  believeth  shall  be 
saved/'  (Mark  16  :  16.)  "All  the  prophets  give  witness  unto 
Christ,  that  through  his  name  whosoever  believeth  in  him  shall  re- 
ceive remissioji  of  sins."  (Acts  10  :  43.)  "For  by  grace  are  ye  saved 
through  faith."  (Eph.  2  :  8.)  To  believe  is  to  trust  in  the  merits  of 
Christ's  atonement  as  a  sufficient  satisfaction  for  our  sins,  and  to  re- 
ly upon  that  and  that  aloiio  for  our  salvation.  "Esaias  saith, 
There  shall  bo  a  root  of  Jesse,  and  he  that  shall  rise  to  reign  over 
the  Gentiles  j  and  in  him  shall  the  Gentiles  trust.  Now  the  God  of 
hope  fill  you  with  all  joy  and  peace  in  be! teeing — that  ye  may  abound  ' 
in  hope."     (Rom.  15  :  12,  18.) 

This  believing  is  the  faith  which  God  requires,  as  the  only  terms 
upon  which  he  will  grant  pardon  and  peace.  It  is  a  trusting  reli- 
ance upon  the  shed  blood  of  Christ  as  a  sufficient  ground  to  hope 
for  forgiveness,  since  God  has  said  that  he  is  willing  to  forgive  sins ' 
for  the  sake  of  Christ's  sufferings.  And  when  a  soul  thus  trusts, 
then  God  is  gracious  unto  him  and  saith,  "Deliver  him  from  going 
down  to  the  pit,  for  I  have  found  a  ransom."  (Job  33  :  24.)  God 
becomes. his  friend  and  pardons  his  sins,  or,  in  other  words,  holds 
him  guiltless ;  and  thus  it  is  that  "the  blood  of  Christ  cleanses  us 
from  all  sin."  (1  Jno.  1 :  7.)  Thus  it  is  that  we  secure  peace  with 
God.  "Therefore,  being  justified  hi/  fa ith,  we  have  peace  with  God, 
through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,"  (Rom.  5  :  1.)  And  thus  it  is  that 
we  attain  to  everlasting  salvation.  "Being  now  justified  by  his  blood 
we  shall  be  saved  from  wrath  through  hiui.  For  if  when  we  were 
enemies  we  were  reconciled  to  God  by  the  death  of  his  son,  much 
more,  being  reconciled,  we  shall  be  saved  by  his  life."  (Rom  5:  9,*f10-) 

VI. 

Thus    it  is  that  the  soul,  resting  by  faith   on  the   merits   of  the 

Lord  Jesus  Christ,  is  brought  into  a  state  of  PEACE  WITH  GOD. 

And  for  you,  O,  war-worn  sinner,  I   can,   therefore,  bring  "glad 

TIDINGS  OF  GOOD    NEWS  !" 

Peace  is  declared — peace  between  God  and  man.  The  Almighty 
is  satisfied,  as  by  the  death  of  his  Son,  he  has  triumphed  over  Sin 
and  Satan,  and  his  Son  ascending  on  high,  ha.s  led  captivity  captive, 
and,  a  mighty  Conqueror,  sits  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Father  to  in- 
tercede for  you  as  soon  as  you  lay  down  your  arms  of  rebellion.  Q 
sinner,  will  you  not  repent,  and,  by  trusting  in  Jesus,  take  Him  for 
your  Saviour,  and  thus  accept  of  Peace  with  God  ? 

Peace  with  God  !  Ah,  you  know  not  the  meaning  of  that 
phrase.  It  means  being  at  peace  with  the  King  of  kings  and  Lord 
of  lords — the  mighty  Potentate  of  heaven  and  earth,  in  whose  hands 
is  all  power,  and  who,  by  a  word,  can  consign  you  to  everlasting  tor- 
ment. It  means  that  God  will  be  your  friend,  Christ  your  advocate, 
and  angels  your  ministering  spirits.  It  means  that  the  Powers  of 
Hell  will  not  be  able  to  prevail  against  yOu — that  not  for  you  will 


8 

the  lake  of  fire  and  brimstone  toss  its  heaving  billows  of  flame.  It  means 
that  not  for  you  will  death  present  its  fearful  horrors ;  that  not  for  you 
will  the  judgment  be  clothed  in  terror  ;  that  not'  for  you  will  eternity  b« 
shrouded  in  black  ;  that  not  for  you  will  be  the  weepings  and  waitings 
of  eternal  damnation. 

Peace  of  Conscience  will  be  yours — that  joyful,  blissful  frame  of  miad 
which  the  world  cannot  give  nor  take  away. 

Your  soul  will  feel  safe :  all  doubts  and  fears  will  be  forever  sileneed 
— a  blessed  calm  will  take  possession  of.  you,  and  you  will  be  enabled 
to  "draw  near  to  God  with  a  full  assurance  of  faith,  having  your  heart 
sprinkled  from  an  evil  conscience."     (Hebrews  10:'  22.) 

Happiness  will  be  yours; joy  will  illuminate  your  heart;  the  sun  of 
Hope  will  light  up  your  pathway  brilliantly  before  you  ;  the  bright  gates 
of  Heaven  will  stand  invitingly  open  to  receive  you  ;  and  the  long,  un- 
ending ages  of  eternity,  freighted  with  inexpressible  bliss,  will  be  yours 
forever  and  forever. 

VII. 

And  now,  reader,  in  the  name  of  High  Heaven — with  a  full  consider- 
ation of  the  value  of  your  immortal  soul — with  a  knowledge  of  the  cer- 
tainty of  death— with  the  sound  of  crashing  worlds  iu*my  ears — in  view 
of  Him  who  appears  in  flaming  fire  to  take  vengeance  on  them  that  know 
not  God— with  the  sight  of  firmaments  melted  with  fervent  heat  and 
gathered  together  and  rolled  away  forever— and  with  an  endless^  eterni- 
ty swelling  out  before  my  view,  and  echoing  and  reechoing  with  yells 
of  despair,  I  ask,  Are  yowat peace  with  Godf  And  if  not,  let  me'say 
that*all  things  yrge  you  to  make  your  peace  with  him.  God  in  hie  an- 
ger, Christ  in  his  love  ;  the. law  in  its  fierceness,  the  Gospel  in  its 
kindness ;  justice  with  clarion  voice,  mercy  in  beseeching  tones  ;  the  an- 
gels in  amazed  wonder,  the  just  made  perfect  in  solicitude;  the  warning 
pains  of  fell  disease  ,  the  holl#w  sound  of  falling  clods  ;  every  tolling 
bell  and  each  freshly  moulded  grave  ;  each  setting  sun  and  every  closed 
eyelid  ;  the  Sabbath  morn,  the  preacher's  voice  and  every  falling  leaf, 
all,  all,  admonish  you  to  make  your  peace  with  God,  ere  it  be  too  late. 

Your  lost  companions,  howling"  in  unendurable,  yet  endless  torments,  send  up 
the  never  ceasing  alarum,  Make  your  peace  with   God  ! 

Flitting  Time,  as  it  passes  by  on  rustling  wings,  whispers;  Hake  your  peace 
with  God  ! 

Pallid  Death,  in  awful  tones  of  fearful  warning,  exclaims,  Make  your  peace 
with  God  ! 
The  cold,  silentgrave,  in  sepulchral  notes,  ejaculates.  Make  your  peace  with  God  .' 

The  Judgment,  in  tones  of  thunder,  reverberating  along  the  vaults  of  eternity, 
peals  forth  the  same  sound,  Make  your  peace  to ith  God  ! 

Hell,  with  its  groans  and  horrors,  its  woe  and  everlasting  despair,  echoes,  in 
tones  of  piercing  anguish,  Make  your  peace  with  God  ! 

And  Eternity-^-long,  unending  eternity,  with  a  wailing,  swelling,  fearfully  dis- 
tinctive reiteration,  utter  the  solemn  w  rrts,  MAKE  YOUR  PEACti  Wl  I  H  GOD  ! 

VIII. 

Oh,  if  eternal  happine,S3  depends  upon  the  decision  of  an  hour  ;  if  it  be  man's 
one  great  duty  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come;  it  heaven  and  hell  are  realities, 
I  ask  you,  sinner,  if  you  should  not  prepare  to  meet  your  God?  When  all  the 
joys  of  earth  fade  and  grow  dim  before  ,thc  glory  of  Heaven  ;  when  compared 
with  the  bliss  of  eternal  life,  fame,  honor,  wealth,  pleasure,  power,  influence  and 
self-gratification  al  sink  into  nothingness,  is  it  not  wise  to  pause  in  your  mad 
career  and  begin  at  once  your  preparation  fur  eternity?  0  sinner,  pause,  lest 
mercy's  arm  weary  of  ringing  her  warning  bed!  Pause,  lest  Love  cease  her 
melting  calls,  and  say,  let  him  alone  !  Pause,  lest  Justioe  grasp  the  glittering 
soeptre'an  l#hurl  the  avenging  thunderbolt.  Pause,  lest  hope  spread  wider  her 
lotMul  pinions  and  take  an  everlasting  flight.  Pause,  lest  Despair,  o'er  %  le+t 
and  ruined  soul,  in  triumph  wave  forever  her  black  ensign  of  woe  I 


Hollinger  Corp. 
PH  8.5 


